City of Sanibel officials said the island is a part of those efforts, making beach and habitat protection a top priority.

“One of the things that separates our beaches from some of the others statewide is that we maintain our beaches in a natural condition,” said Sanibel Deputy Director of Natural Resources Holly Milbrandt.

The city first adopted a plan in the mid-90s to protect the natural landscape. That’s why you won’t find structures like high rises, jetties, or sea walls on the island. The report also says those structures have a negative impact on beaches.

City officials said they just received a grant from the Florida Coastal Program that will help fund planning for the impacts of erosion and sea levels rising in the future.